Landmark trees get the axe
Friday September 10 2010
A 120-year-old landmark tree on the main boulevard through Dublin's Phoenix Park was cut down yesterday.
The tree, the first of 45 being chopped down over the coming weeks, was planted in 1890 just inside the Castleknock gates at the end of Chesterfield Avenue.
It was cut down yesterday due to old age, as revealed in yesterday's Irish Independent, after a series of surveys was undertaken to identify the overall health and structural condition of the trees.
This included the removal of diseased and dangerous trees, which could endanger park users.
Necessary
Phoenix Park superintendent Margaret Gormley said yesterday: "The felling is only undertaken when absolutely necessary."
The 45 trees being cut down along Chesterfield Avenue, the busiest road in the park, include 32 horse chestnuts, eight beeches, four limes and one ash.
A further 15 trees will be felled in the remainder of the park.
Ms Gormley said the majority of trees in the park were over-mature and there was an extensive tree-planting programme to replace losses from storms, disease and old age.
In excess of 5,000 new trees have been planted over the last two decades.
A further 500 trees are to be planted this winter.
- Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
Irish Independent
